Young people celebrate Women’s Day with march

About 1 000 young people from Tembisa came together and marched to bring change and hope to the hopeless and helpless women from the township on August 9.

The 3km march formed part of the Women’s Day celebration organised by the Tembisa Kota Festival in association with #PADAGIRL to raise funds for much-needed sanitary towels for young women coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We gather here on this historic day to remember and honour the selfless struggle of those brave women who marched for change in the country.

“We are gathering here today under different circumstances and under a different cause and that is to free our young sisters from the bondage of poverty. We are here to honour our fallen heroines, but above all to remind ourselves that there are many young women out there who are mocked at school because they can’t afford to buy a packet of sanitary pads. It is our duty to play our part, just like the women of 1956 did. It is upon every one of us to contribute our time and little money to bring change and a smile to those in great need,” said Thabiso Raseboya, one of the event organisers.

“It is not an accident that there are so many young people here today. This is simply a sign that they value the contribution made by our struggle icons such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Helen Suzman, Adelaide Tambo and many others who braved tear gas and bullets of the apartheid security forces in their quest to liberate us. And it also shows that they understand their current task to liberate today’s generation from the jaws of poverty,” he continued.

The participants donated over 1 000 packs of sanitary pads on the day, which were handed over to about 630 young girls in the township on Saturday.

“We would like to thank the City of Ekurhuleni and all those who contributed to bringing change and a smile to those who are less fortunate. To all young people of Tembisa who came out and supported this cause, we salute you,” he concluded.